Best running shoes for overpronation

Here’s the short answer: No. But first, some background.

You’re here because you probably had a ‘gait analysis’ done at a shoe store and were advised to wear running shoes that ‘correct’ your pronation. Or you read something about overpronation on the internet, so you landed on this page to do further research before finally deciding which shoe to buy. But let’s make it clear upfront – so-called stability running shoes will not ‘correct’ or even prevent overpronation. Everyone pronates; this inward-rolling movement is a naturally occurring component of the gait cycle. The only difference is that a certain population of runners roll in a lot more than others.

A medial post.

To counter this exaggerated movement, the ‘medial post’ was invented a few decades ago. This is a firmer wedge of foam on the inner midsole. The underlying theory was that the harder inner midsole prevents the foot from rolling excessively inwards.

It sounded great on paper and made sense in the 70s and 80s. Back then, running shoes had blown EVA foam midsoles that compacted quickly and lost their structure within a few months. We discussed this topic in detail in one of our 2015 shoe reviews. In short, modern-day stability running shoes with a medial post are redundant. Perhaps vintage stability shoes were partially effective, but then those were ugly-looking beasts with oversized medial posts. Now that’s a medial post.

The ‘Guiderails’ of the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24.

Midsole foams have come of age, so even so-called neutral shoes are supportive enough. To nobody’s surprise, recent traditional stability shoe updates have evolved into supportive neutrals. The Saucony Guide 19 and Nike Vomero 18 are good examples of running shoes that have adopted a ‘supportive neutral’ midsole design. So if traditional overpronation-control shoes are a relic of the past, si this buyer’s guide even necessary?

Not all shoes are suitable for overpronators. Notice how the Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo’s midsole collapses during overpronation.

Many modern midsoles are made of soft super-foams. Some of these shoes perform poorly during an overpronated gait. To prevent this from happening, overpronation-friendly running shoes need to be supportive on the inner side – which the shoes in this guide are.

As a general guideline, stay clear of overly soft or ‘cushioned’ running shoes. Also avoid running shoes that leave a gap on the inner midsole. Removing midsole material under the arch area results in a loss of compression resistance. Here’s an example of the Adios Pro 4 under an overpronated gait – this infographic was in our Adios Pro 4 review.

Also, here’s a short list of current shoes that overpronators should avoid, based on our biomechanical data from road racing events:

Asics Metaspeed Edge and Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, Asics Metaspeed Ray, adidas Adios Pro 4, Brooks Hyperion Max 3, Brooks Glycerin Max 2, New Balance 1080 v15, Nike Vomero Premium, and the Nike Pegasus Premium.

Most of these features are harmless, but they are placebos that large brands use to create a compelling marketing story. The idea that a tiny piece of foam or slightly raised sidewalls will prevent overpronation is laughable. What matters is the overall stability, and how compression-resistant the inner midsole is.